Doughnut machine



April 19, 1949. P. J. TOEWS DOUGHNUT MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1945 Peter J. Toews April 19, 1949. P. J. TOEWS DOUGHNUT MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1945 Peter J. Toews Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

My invention relates to doughnut machines and particularly to doughnut machines in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid.

An object of the invention resides in providing a control device for use in conjunction with such doughnut machines in which the movement of the doughnut from the control device is rapidly accelerated.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a control device which does not materially obstruct the flow of the cooking liquid and reduce the velocity thereof.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a control device for doughnut machines by means of which flattening of the doughnuts is prevented.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illus trated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a doughnut machine illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l and drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig, 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the parts in altered position.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

I have found that with control devices such as disclosed in the patent to Alexander S. T. Lagaard. No. 2,207,546, issued July 9, 1940, that the forward engaging member of the control de- Vice greatly obstructs the flow of the cooking liqv uid and makes the doughnuts sluggish in moving away from the control device when the same is shifted into release position. I have also found in accelerating the movement of the doughnut away from the control device when the control device is moved to release position.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the drawings a doughnut machine of the type in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid. This doughnut machine comprises a case it) in which is supported a kettle ll formed with an elongated depression l2 there-; in which provides a circuitous way along which the doughnuts travel. This kettle has a top 13, a bottom Hi and side walls 15 which bottom and side walls form the Way E2. The way l2 has a run [5 which extends along one side of the kettle and is formed with a looped portion I! which terminates in another run l8 extending along and parallel to the run It. The run l8 discharges into a reservoir ill from which the Cooking liquid is drawn by means of an impeller 2|. The said impeller raises the cooking liquid in .a shaft 22 from which it flows along a curved run 23 of the way I 2 and which discharges into the run 15.

At .the end of the case it at which the impeller 2! is situated, is provided a table 24 which covers the reservoir 19 and the run 23 of the way l2. Supported by this table is a motor 25 which drives the impeller 2!. A container 26 for dough is also mounted on the table 24 and is provided with a cutter 21 by means of which formed raw doughnuts are extruded and deposited through the table 2 and into the run N5 of the way H2. The doughnuts entering said run are progressed along the way l2 by means of the flow of the cooking liquid produced by the impeller 2i. These doughnuts travel until they reach a control device 28 which periodically controls the passage of the doughnuts, one at a time, to a turner 2!; situated in the portion ll of the way 22. The inverted doughnuts continue their passage along the way i2 until they reach a second control device 3! which again feeds the doughnuts, one at a time, to an ejector 32. This ejector discharges the cooked doughnuts from the machine. A transmission mounted in a case 30 supported on case it and driven by a motor Hill, periodically drives a shaft 33 which operates the control devices 28 and 3!. Another shaft 34, driven by the transmission within the case 30, operates the cutter 2?, while still another shaft 35, driven from the said transmission, operates the ejector 32.

Resting on the case iii are four uprights 3-6, 31, 38 and 39 which support a hood not shown.

At the edges of the various uprights are provided guides 44 in which are slidably mounted windows 45 by means of which access to the interior of the doughnut machine may be had.

The invention proper resides in the construction of the control devices 28 and 3|. Since both of these control devices are similar in construction, only the control device 28 will be described in detail. This control device comprises a cradle 5| constructed of sheet metal and formed with a bottom 52. The bottom 52 has extending upwardly from it on one side thereof a spaced ear 53 which has extending outwardly therefrom a hollow boss 54. The boss 54 extends through a notch 51 in a cover plate 58 which covers a cavity 59 formed in the side wall 6| of the kettle adjacent the portion of the way I 2 in which the control device 28 is positioned. The boss 54 is formed with a bore 55 which is adapted to be journaled on a stud 56 attached to a bracket 82 best shown in Fig. 4. This bracket is secured to a lug 63 which, in turn, is mounted on the cover plate 58. The boss 54 has extending outwardly therefrom a lever 64 by means of which the cradle 52 may be oscillated.

Pivoted to the end of the lever 64 by means of a pintle 65 is a link 66 which projects upwardly through a slot 6! formed in a portion 88 of the cover plate 58 which portion is bent at right angles to the said cover plate and overlies the top |3 of the kettle. The cover plate 58 is secured to the kettle by means of two bolts 89 which extend through the portion 88 of said cover plate and are threaded into the top l3.

The link 66 is oscillated by means of the following construction: Extending across the kettle H is a shaft H which is connected to the shaft 33 and is periodically oscillated by means of the transmission in the case 30. The shaft H is journaled in an outboard bearing 12 attached to the top |3 of the kettle The shaft carries an arm 13 which has a notch 14 formed in the same. A pin 15, issuing outwardly from the upper end of the link 66 is adapted to be engaged with the notch 14 and when so engaged, the link 66 is raised and lowered, which acting through the lever 64, oscillates the cradle 5|. The link 66 may be shifted to bring the pin 75 into or out of engagement with the notch 14 by means of a shift rod 76 which extends through the case l0 and is provided at the outer end thereof with a knob 11. The inner end of this shaft rod has attached to it a shifter 78 having a fork 19 adapted to straddle the link 66. The said shifter is slidably mounted on a stud 8| which extends through a slot 82 in said shifter.

The bottom 52 of cradle 5| has formed at the rearward edge thereof a depending engaging member 83 which consists of a wall bent downwardly from said bottom and which is arcuate in form with its center at the center of the stud 56. Both this engaging member and the bottom 52 have slots 84 in the same to reduce the obstruction to the flow of the cooking liquid along the way. By means of this construction, a bight 85 is formed between the bottom 52 and the engaging member 83 which serves a purpose to be presently more fully described. At the forward end of the bottom 52 is formed an upwardly extending wall 86 which serves as a forward engaging member. This wall has an opening 81 in the same of such form that the wall consists principally of two legs 88 extending upwardly from the bottom 52 and having at their upper ends two tongues 89. The two tongues 89 are bent outwardly in curved formation, as designated at 9| in Fig. 2, to form curved surfaces 92 adapted to engage the doughnuts. The portions 9| serve as engaging elements for engaging the doughnuts and it will be noted in Fig. 2 that the surfaces 92 thereof engage the doughnut to each side of the center of the doughnut, so that pres sure on the middle of the doughnut is prevented.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the doughnuts reach the control device 28, they are arrested by the two engaging elements 9| and take the position shown in dotted lines at 93 in Fig. 2. As the additional doughnuts are deposited in the machine, the same form a column in back of the doughnut 93. When the device is set in operation through manipulation of the shift rod 16, the cradle 5| is oscillated from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 5. The bight of the cradle then engages the rearward portion of the doughnut 93, assisting in moving the same forwardly and the engaging member 83 engages the forward portion of the following doughnut which has been designated by the reference numeral 94. The engaging member 86 is then moved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5 to clear the doughnut 93 which then moves away from the same. Due to the formation of the opening 8'! between the two engaging elements 9|, the cooking liquid flows freely through the cradle 5|, assisting in accelerating the movement of the doughnut away from the control device. It will be noted that as the engaging member 86 moves from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, that a sort of rolling action is produced, whereby the doughnut is freed from the devices without undue sliding. This makes it easier for the doughnut to get away and causes less vertical disturbance of the forward end of the doughnut. Any irregularities formed on the doughnut such as indicated at 99 in Fig. 5 may pass in between the engaging elements 9| and hence would not obstruct the movement of the doughnuts. While a greater decree of sliding occurs between the engaging device 83 and the doughnut 94, it is to be noted that the said doughnut has a whole column of doughnuts behind it to assist in bringing the said doughnut up to the engaging member 86 when the cradle 5| is oscillated back to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The device causes the doughnuts to travel smoothly along the way and reduces the amount of disturbance usually occurring with a similar device. With my invention, acceleration of the doughnuts away from the control device is greatly assisted. With my invention, the doughnut is engaged at two localities, and the tendency of the doughnut to flatten is greatly reduced. In my improved doughnut machine, the flow of the cooking liquid is less obstructed and the current at the forward end of the control device is maintained at a maximum so that the movement of the doughnut is greatly accelerated the instant the doughnut is freed. My invention can be constructed at practically no additional expense and can be manufactured by the methods readily available for the'purpose.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging members in engagement with the doughnuts. to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said for-ward engaging member comprising two upwardly extending engaging elements spaced apart transversely of the way throughout their extent and engaging the doughnut at spaced transverse localities on opposite sides thereof.

2. Ina doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a cradle comprising spaced forward and rearward engaging members pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis disposed intermediate said engaging members, means for rocking said cradle about its axis to alternately bring the engaging members into engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts along the way, said forward engaging member comp-rising two separate en aging elements spaced apart laterally of the way and adapted to engage the doughnut at spaced localities on opposite sides thereof and at localities remote from the center of the doughnut.

3. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of th cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging devices for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging devices in engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging devices, said forward engaging device comprising two engaging members spaced apart transversely of the way and formed with curved surfaces engaging the doughnuts at spaced localities on opposite sides thereof.

l. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging devices for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging devices in engagement with the doughnuts to control said passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging devices, said forward engaging device comprising two engaging members spaced apart transversely of the way and formed with curved surfaces engaging the doughnuts at spaced localities on opposite sides thereof, the axes of said curved surfaces bein substantially vertical when the said members are in engagement with the doughnut.

5. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a cradle comprising a platelike bottom pivoted about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the way and intermediate the ends thereof, a wall extending upwardly from said bottom and forming a forward engaging member, said wall having a central opening therein and the portions of said Wall at the opening being turned forwardly to form curved surfaces for engagement with the doughnuts at transversely spaced localities, said bottom having a rear wall turned downwardly therefrom and forming a rearwardly engaging member and. means for oscillating said cradle to bring said engaging members alternately in engagement with the doughnut.

6. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a. way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a cradle comprising a plate-like bottom pivoted about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the way and intermediate the ends thereof, a wall extending upwardly from said bottom and forming a forward engaging device, said wall having a central opening therein and the portions of said wall at the opening being severed from the Wall to form tongues, said tongues extending forwardly from said wall to provide curved surfaces for engagement with the doughnuts at transversely spaced localities, said bottom having a rear wall turned downwardly therefrom and forming a rearwardly engaging device and means for oscillating said cradle to bring said engaging device alternately in ngagement with the doughnut.

'7. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alter nately bringing said engaging members in en gagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said forward engaging member comprising two upwardly extending engaging elements spaced apart transversely of the way to provide an unobstructed central passageway therebetween through which the cooking liquid may flow and into which the doughnuts may enter, said engaging elements engaging the doughnuts on opposite sides thereof.

8. In a doughnut machine in, which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging members in engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said forward engaging member comprising two engaging elements spaced apart transversely of the way said elements having facing surfaces for simultaneous engagement with the doughnuts on opposite sides thereof.

9. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging members in engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said forward engaging member comprising two engaging elements spaced apart transversely of the Way a distance not less than the radius of a doughnut and for simultaneous engagement with the doughnuts on opposite sides thereof.

10. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging members in engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said forward engaging member comprising two engaging elements spaced apart transversely of the way said elements having angularly disposed surfaces for simultaneous engagement with the doughnuts on opposite sides thereof.

11. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a Way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alternately bringing said engaging members in engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said forward engaging memher having a depression at a portion of the same intermediate its lateral dges and extending from the uppermost edge of the same downwardly a distance sufiicient to clear the central portions of deformed doughnuts of spheroidal form and allowing the same to pass said engaging member when in one of its positions.

12. In a doughnut machine in which the dough-- nuts are progressed along a Way through the flow of the cooking liquid, longitudinally spaced forward and rearward engaging members for engagement with the doughnuts, means for alter- 8 nately bringing said engaging members in engagement with the doughnuts to control the passage of the doughnuts one at a time past said engaging members, said forward engaging mem-- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,855 Lagaard May 7, 1940 2,207,546 Lagaard July 9, 1940 2,320,037 Holmes et al May 25, 1943 

